Multiculturalism: integration or a split?

The article is devoted to the problems of multiculturalism, analysis of its strong and weak sides as well as specific character of this phenomenon in Russia. It analyses policy of multiculturalism and social-economic factors which influence its efficiency. The article considers opinions of this policy followers and opponents. The author proves the necessity of taking into consideration experiences of other countries in solving multicultural conflicts. The author proves that already formed Russian nation does not exclude the existence of other cultures in the territory of Russia; the article considers possibility of creating new overethnic civil nations.